Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, will head to the US Open without participating in the ATP Masters 1000 events preceding the tournament. Following his withdrawal from the National Bank Open in Toronto, Djokovic announced he is also pulling out of the Cincinnati Open for a “non-medical” reason. This marks the second consecutive Masters 1000 event he will miss before the final Grand Slam of the season.

Djokovic is a three-time Cincinnati Open champion, most recently securing the title in 2023 by defeating Carlos Alcaraz. His absence at the Cincinnati event this year coincides with the one-year anniversary of his Olympic gold medal victory in Paris, after which he also missed the tournament last year.

The 38-year-old Serbian last competed at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals for the third time this season before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner, who also defeated Djokovic in straight sets at Roland Garros earlier this year. Reflecting on his recent performances, Djokovic commented, “I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes, yeah, the worse the condition gets.”

He further explained the challenges of facing young, fit opponents, saying, “I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with tank half empty. It’s just not possible to win a match like that. It is what it is, you know? It’s one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, I guess.”

Despite skipping Cincinnati, Djokovic will participate in the US Open’s reimagined mixed doubles event during Fan Week in New York. He and fellow Serbian Olga Danilovic received a wild card alongside six other teams, with the competition set for August 19-20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2025 Cincinnati Masters for the second year in a row, heightening concerns about his physical condition. The former world No 1 had planned to return to the tour at the seventh Masters 1000 event this season after also withdrawing from the Canadian Masters. He skipped both tournaments in the previous year but had a strong run at the Paris Olympic Games post-Wimbledon with six additional matches.

Djokovic’s last match was a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 semi-final defeat at Wimbledon against world No 1 Jannik Sinner, marking his fifth consecutive loss to the Italian. Notably, Djokovic suffered a severe slip during his quarter-final against Flavio Cobolli. In the match against Sinner, Djokovic appeared physically compromised and struggled to employ his usual defensive play.

In his post-match press conference, Djokovic reflected on his condition: “Honestly, wasn’t really a pleasant feeling on the court. I don’t want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best. I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That’s it. He’s in the finals. He was too strong.”

He acknowledged the challenges brought by age and physical wear: “I do feel, yeah, disappointed that I just wasn’t able to move as well as I thought or hoped that I would. I don’t think it’s bad fortune. It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.”

Djokovic noted the difficulty of best-of-five set matches this year, particularly facing young and fit opponents like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “I feel like I’m going into the match with tank half empty. It’s just not possible to win a match like that. It is what it is, you know? It’s one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, I guess.”

His withdrawal from Cincinnati means Djokovic will head to the US Open without any hard-court match play for approximately 44 days. Despite this unusual preparation, he boasts an impressive record at the US Open with 10 finals appearances and four titles, maintaining an 87% win rate across 104 matches. His most recent US Open campaign ended in a third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin, his earliest exit since 2006.

As the tennis season approaches its climax with the US Open, the 2025 Cincinnati Masters offers the last major opportunity for players to fine-tune their game. This prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event attracts many top competitors, including the defending champion Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz, along with Novak Djokovic.

The Cincinnati Masters holds a significant place on the ATP calendar, reflected by its generous prize money and ranking points. The tournament winner will receive $1,124,380, a noticeable increase from the $1,049,460 awarded to Sinner in 2024. The runner-up’s prize has also risen to $597,890.

Players reaching the semi-finals will earn $332,160, while quarter-finalists take home $189,075. Fourth-round participants receive $103,225, third round $60,400, second round $35,260, and first-round players will secure $23,760.

Ranking points mirror the event’s stature. The champion obtains 1000 ATP points, with the finalist earning 600. Semi-finalists gain 400 points, quarter-finalists 200, fourth-round participants 100, third-round 50, second-round 30, and those eliminated in the opening round receive 10 points.

With no significant withdrawals reported so far, the Cincinnati Masters promises a strong, competitive field ahead of the US Open, making it an essential stop on the 2025 tennis tour.